Day: June 15, 2023

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Zimbabwe breaks a record with its tobacco sales

Zimbabwe has produced a record amount of tobacco this year, with 263,000 tonnes sold so far this season.

The agriculture ministry said that 85% of the production came from small-scale farmers, many of whom were settled on land controversially seized more than two decades ago from white farmers under a policy to address colonial era land grabs.

For the government this is a vindication of the controversial land seizures.

Zimbabwe is Africa’s largest producer of tobacco and exports to China, the Middle East and Europe.

Good rains and better financing helped farmers to achieve the record output.

According to the tobacco marketing authority, the output is expected to rise further as farmers continue with deliveries to the market.

Tobacco is a vital source of foreign currency and has raked in close to $800m (£630m) this year.

But it comes at a heavy price to the environment as many farmers use wood to cure the tobacco which can lead to deforestation.

Tobacco - when smoked - can increase the risk of serious health conditions, including several types of cancer. Despite the health risks revenue from cigarette sales globally is rising driven by demand in parts of Asia and Africa.

Source: BBC

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Ghana’s table tennis star Abrefa supports clubs, schools with sporting kits

UK-based Ghanaian table tennis star Derek Abrefa has donated sporting kits and equipment to some schools, communities, sport foundations, and clubs in Ghana.

The items, which included 400 pieces of advanced training balls, 30 beginner table tennis rackets, 13 portable nets, electronic and manual scoreboards, and 30 pieces of jerseys, track suits, racket cases, foot wear, and socks, were given to some communities in La Dadekotopon, Nungua, Osu, and Mamprobi all in the Greater Accra Region.

Some of the schools and foundations that benefited from the donations include La Wireless 6 JHS, La Wireless 7 JHS, Rising Star Sport Foundation, Lartei TT Club, Pot Sports TT Club, and some young talents who needed equipment support.

These items arrived in Ghana on Friday, June 9th, 2023, and were received by the Head Coach of the Rising Star Sport Foundation, Enock Otu, who distributed the items. Abrefa, in a speech read on his behalf, expressed his utmost thanks to God for making his dream a reality and also acknowledged his team.

He thanked his table tennis mate, Sam Mabey of Table Tennis England, eBatt Table Tennis Club, United Kingdom, for donating the items, and his coach, Ebenezer Anang-Whyte, who always encouraged him to help young talents.

He went on to acknowledge the CEO of Asoba Foundation, Nathaniel Somuah, and Ishmael Armah, CEO of NK Foundation, for their guidance and making sure the items arrived safely.

Abrefa stated that he sought to expand the project in the coming years by providing support to as many local communities as possible, especially the deprived areas where talents are having a lot of challenges, both financially and technically.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Don’t come to my palace without an NHIS card – Chief ‘orders’ indigenes

In a move to stimulate interest in the National Health Insurance Scheme and get his indigenes to access affordable healthcare, the Omanhene of the Goaso traditional area, Nana Akwasi Bosompra, has disclosed that the doors of the palace will be shut to anyone visiting the place without the NHIA card.

According to Nana Akwasi Bosompra, it has become necessary to make the NHIS card a requirement for access to the place due to his recognition of the scheme as an intervention tailored to the healthcare and economic needs of his townsfolk.

Speaking during a visit by an NHIA delegation led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, Nana Kwasi Bosompra disclosed that registration onto the NHIA had been made mandatory for every household under his Traditional Council as he was of the view that it would enable them to access quality yet affordable healthcare.

He appealed to traditional leaders across the country to ramp up efforts in encouraging people to register for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He indicated the role of Chiefs in ensuring that every Ghanian had medical insurance, adding there was the need to revive community involvement in the affairs of the NHIS.

'If you want to summon anyone, you must come with an NHIA card. If you can get money to litigate then you surely must have money for health insurance. I'm introducing this innovation to use the powers we have to help our people. As traditional rulers, sometimes we have to force our people to do the right thing', he said.

Dr Okoe Boye thanked the Goaso Omanhene for his generous donation of the piece of land used for the construction of the NHIA Regional office and the two other district offices.

According to Dr Okoe Boye, chiefs are revered as key stakeholders in the sustenance of the Scheme, hence they must come on board and actively play the role of ambassadors.

The NHIA Chief Executive's delegation earlier conferred with the Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. George Yaw Boakye who joined the team to inaugurate the newly built projects.

The Regional Director, Mr Alexander Fordjour, the Goaso Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Yaw Osei Boahene, the Municipal Director of Ghana Health Service, Mr Matthew Amponsah, and other stakeholders witnessed the inaugural ceremonies.

The NHIA Chief Executive's delegation was made up of his Executive Assistant, Mr Gabriel Osei, the Ag. Director of Admin/Human Resources, Mr Raymond Avinu, Ag. Director of Procurement, Mr Frank Yeboah, Ag. Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Madam Vida Adutwumwaa Boateng and selected staff from the NHIA head office.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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St Nicholas School Partners Knowledge Resort to Roll Out E-Learning

Nicholas Preparatory School in Tema, Ghana has signed a partnership agreement with Knowledge Resort Ltd, an Educational Technology Company, to provide a broad category of e-learning services to students and teachers.

Under the agreement, basic and junior high school students of St Nicholas School will be able to, as part of their curriculum, study various topics in Mathematics, English Language, Science, and ICT, In a fun and competitive way online.

This will improve thinking, attention and listening skills, speed and concentration, persistence, and involvement amongst students as observed in video game players. The e-learning services will also enhance the achievement of automaticity through repetition practice.?

Students' competitive spirit is greatly improved with the introduction of a scoreboard and leaderboard since they can compare their speed of solving questions with their contemporaries.? More so this enhances the promotion of ICT among students and teachers.? Students of St. Nicholas School will be able to access these services online even while at home and during vacations with their unique credentials giving them a significant advantage over kids in other schools.?

With thousands of practice questions and answers in different subjects, coupled with a step-by-step mathematics problem solver students and teachers will have a lot to do.

The school is pursuing a dedicated vision in progressing and maintaining the Hellenic influence, both ancient and modern, amid?an all-round education and culture.

Knowledge Resort Ltd, an Educational Technology Company, focuses on e-learning and is based in

Ghana with a worldwide reach.

It collaborates with educational institutions, their learners, and teachers to bolster students' knowledge, particularly in English Language, Science, and Mathematics by delivering web-based high-quality educational content.

In the educational sector, it serves Basic Schools, Junior, and Senior high schools, teachers, and homes.

GNA

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Grammys: Highlife, Ghanaian drill recognised in new ‘Best African Music Performance’ category

The Recording Academy of the Grammy Awards has announced the addition of three new categories, including Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording.

As part of the Best African Music Performance category, Ghanaian drill and Highlife artistes would be considered for this category starting with the 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards.

The Best African Music Performance category would also recognise other genres, including Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, among others.

This recognition of the Highlife and Ghanaian drill music genre has been met with lots of joy from Ghanaian music lovers on social media. 'The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process.

These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape,' Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said.

'By introducing these three new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists - and relocating the Producer Of the Year and Songwriter Of The Year categories to the General Field ensures that all our voters can participate in recognizing excellence in these fields,' Mason continued.

'We are excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories, while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide.

Source: Ghana News Agency